France, a long time opponent of Turkey joining the EU, has had a change of heart.

France ready to unblock EU-Turkey talks

France wants to "give a new impetus" to Turkey's EU membership talks, allowing negotiations to resume this week after a break of almost three years.

A spokesman for the foreign ministry later the same day confirmed that France, a long-term opponent of Turkish EU accession, has had a change of heart and wants to "give a new impetus to EU-Turkey relations."

France's former President, Nicolas Sarkozy had openly said that Turkey should never get into the EU.

For his part, EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele welcomed the French development. "France's signal of readiness for the EU to restart discussions on regional policy with Turkey adds to momentum to make 2013 a turning point in our relations," he tweeted.

Now that Sarkozy is out and a Socialists govern, there is a reversal of France's previous opposition Turkey joining the EU. Good news, though I think it is unlikely that anything will happen anytime soon.

1. Germany welcomes French move on Turkey

The German government welcomes France's move to allow the opening of one negotiating chapter in Turkey's EU membership talks, a government spokesman told journalists. "We think it would make sense to look at other chapters too, but it's a complex process," he said, adding that Turkey's EU talks are "open-ended."